St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-02-12


occupied by Mr.. John A Arndt. and there
i> no doubt but it is the same interesting
relic to-day that it was then. A visit to
this house might then have given a very
correct insight into the luxuriant tastes
Of this old man. It is very materially
changed. but enough of the decorations
are preserved to satisfy the traveller that
nowhere i'm the State could be found
their equal. The walls of the various
rooms were adorned with costly designs
in the order Of their Importance. Some
had scenery paintings heightened into
most life-like perspectives Of nature by
the harmony of colors. Full-sized fig
ures in the art of falconry were repre-
scnted Of the hunter on his chase and
other such conceptions of ofb:irOnialtastes.
Tablets of china most ingeniously
painted awakened curiosity; and the
jambs in the house were not the least u
study. The side-place of the doors and
the side-pieces Of the fire-hearths were
of most mechanical contrivancc.
Though Baron Stiegel had this beau
tiful chateau at Mannheim. he resided in
Philadelphia most Of his time. He was
a lordly gentleman. and perhaps the
very first citizen of that city to have
the additional luxury of a country-seat.
His family stood well in society. and it
is altogether probable that if his tastes
were SO extravagant among the plain
country people. that they would have
had greater vanity Of display in the
proud city. Anyhow, he made frequent
excursions into the country to visit his
country seat. Often he would go to
look after his iron interests. and more
especially to adjust matters in his glass
mandatory at Mannheim, also to ex-
anime into the progress of things on his
farms and lands. but he came most fire.
quently on mere pleasure excursions.
He then was attended by large com
pany of his particular friends and u
tie band of expert servants. He trav-
eled like a prince. Though it was
altogether an ancient outfit. yet his
livery was perfect. His ponderous We
hicles were drawn by heavy arch-necked
steeds. and his lackeys ministered to
every want of man and beast. His
coming was always looked forward To
with joyful anticipations. both at Shacf-
erstown and Mannheim. though it never
was certain arrangement. His adj
vent was the occasion Of Il holiday and
of feasting. and none of the employees
were slighted in the festal celebration.
Now the use Of these castles or towers.
come into play here. There were two
Of them-One erected at ShacfferStown.
as already indicated, and another near
Mannheim. They were constructed of
stone out of the mountains and occupied
the loftiest spot of the whole range.
The erection of them WIS entirel lstin,ier
the supervision Of the Baron himself
and when they had reached their coni-
pletion one could see from their lofty.
outlook the country around for miles
and miles. The wcird-like stony struc-
lures upon those heights gave the quiet
valleys below the apparent aspect OF
feudalism. but ..Thurm-Ber.." for its
liberal and eccentric founders sake.
was the signal If hilarity and prosperity
to the inland people. Those towers
were mounted with cannon for the cN-
press purpose Of firing a salute whcn-
ever the inflated nabob would make his
appearance i'm the country. A watch
man would observe his coming. and
then from the mountain heights there
would thunder the cannon's roar and
all the inhabitants from near and far
would startle to their fee: and shout:
'.Baron Stiegel is comingr' They would
rush out to view the pageantry upon the
highway. and the lordly master would
invite and welcome all to his tower.
At Mannheim this salute created still
greater excitement. for there was his
palace and his little army Of employees.
1t was a pleasant episode in the even
rut Of their lives. and the little village
was as much astir upon that occasion
as it would now be upon the arrival OF
the grandest menagerie. When the
festivities on '.Thurm-Berg were gone
through with. the equipages wended
their way southwark for Mannheim.
The furnaces were stopped and the
glass houses were shut up for the one
grand celebration Of Stiegel's arrival.
| The workmen washed the SCOT from
their faces. donned their best garments
and took their musical instruments to
repair 10 the castle and thence To the
mansion. From the kitchen came up
the steaming roasts and dishes Of poul-
trv, and from the cellar the finest
brands Of foreign drinks. and so. like
in some palace of a Scottish chief. they
sat down to the feast. As the wine
poured out and the glasses clanked 81
inccssantly. the toasts became most
fiattering to Stiegcl's baronial hospi-
t.lity. The instruments rang out sweet
music in time-keeping to the whirlins
dancers. and every thing passed of as
the highest entertainment to the jovial
lord and his guests.
But even Stiegcl's wealth was not
unlimited. nor his business foresight
altogether perfect. He lived quite be-
yond his means and failed. He even
was imprisoned for debt. Before the
Revolution If l776 had even cut of his
resources in Europe. a special act "i
December ~. IVA, was passed for his
relief. But he never recovered. Hts
towers stood rs the castles Of folly and
| all his former luxury Knocked him. He
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